What government needs to do to build farmers’ resilience in Kenya

He is among many farmers in the area who benefits from a government’s program known as plantation establishment for livelihood improvement schemes(PELIS).

The program , which is more or less like agroforestry allows farmers to grow the horticultural crop in a government’s gazetted forest while taking care of the forest.

After timber is harvested from a forest block farmers in the neighborhood who have since from small farmers groups are allocated plots of 0.5 acres per person. Every beneficiary farmer farms a plot for three years besides growing tree seedlings provided by the government on the plot. The lease period of farming ends after three when the trees are old enough to support themselves.

Jamleck Macharia holding harvested peas, he is farmer in the Aberdare Forest

PELIS which come into force in 2005 is among the many climate change mitigation initiatives introduced by the government to help farming communities living around gazetted forests achieve food security while promoting forest cover.

Forest cover is important in regulates climate variability, balancing the ecosystem as well as attracting rainfall.

“This kind of agroforestry has enhanced forest cover in the Aberdares and reduced cases of arsonists and charcoal burning in the forest because the community is involved in the conservation process,” says Jamleck Macharia, who is also the chairman of Geta forest block farmers association. They grow snow peas among other horticultural crops for export.

Kenya like other sub-Saharan African countries faces the uncertainty and potential risks of climate change, as a result the government should explore various ways to encourage farmers to care for the environment while benefiting from it.

The government, for instance, should invest in post-harvest technologies to minimize food losses. Already the government is investing a lot of resources in irrigation project, and provision of subsidized fertilizers and seeds, therefore, investments should also be channeled to food preservation so that what is produced does not go to waste.

This is David Kenduywo at his farm in Kembu, Bomet County, Kenya. He grows fodder trees and shrubs such as Calliandra calothyrsus for his dairy cattle and goats. Credit: ICRAF/Daniel Kapsoot

Experts in the climate change and environment sector say that they government must embark on rigorous work on building farmers resilient to realize its domestic pledges to Paris climate change agreement. On December 28, last year, Kenya ratified the Paris Agreement, which came into force on January 29, this year. This shows commitment to a low carbon pathway.

A water distribution point at the Ifo extension camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Drought, desertification, water scarcity and population dislocation are among the climate-related threats that pose risks to global stability and national security, according to a new assessment by former U. S. military officials. Photo: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees / S. Modola.

The country’s fragile ecosystem will be put under intensive pressure arising from species migration due to habitat destruction and reduction. Already, almost 50 percent of the country’s key biodiversity is at risk due to reduced habitat and other human induced pressures. Farmers are particularly affected by agriculture, livestock, fisheries, horticulture and agroforestry depend on specific soil, rainfall and temperature conditions.

Addressing these effects provides opportunities for innovation and business. If we are to cut down the many impacts of climate change variability, the necessary mitigation, adaptation and coping up strategies must be implemented.

Francis Onyango, a climate change consultant says, the government must encourage environment conservation as well as the use of renewable energy to mitigate climate change effects.

He points out that adaptation and mitigation interventions should also be put in place.

“Also important areas to be looked at include communication, education and awareness programs to farmers; vulnerability assessment; research, technology development, and transfer; policy, legislation and institutional framework,” said Onyango.

Principal Secretary in the state department of fisheries and blue economy Prof Micheni Ntiba points out that also points out that El Niño led to post-harvest losses in 19 counties in the country last year.

As a result, he says the government is initiating programs aimed at building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists so as to help them survive the negative impacts of climate change.

“The government is now looking at appropriate storage facilities and technologies to minimize post-harvest losses besides rolling out livestock vaccination program in affected areas,” Prof. Ntiba said.